Tie-down apparatus for a vehicle mounted camper

ABSTRACT

A tie-down apparatus for a truck-mounted camper is disclosed herein. The truck frame comprises first and second longitudinally extending frame members with a bed operatively secured thereto. The camper means is mounted on the bed means with the apparatus of this invention maintaining the camper means in the bed. A first bracket is secured to the first frame member and extends outwardly therefrom with a second bracket being secured to the second frame member and extending outwardly therefrom. A flexible connection means connects opposite sides of the camper to the outer ends of the brackets. Each of the brackets comprises a support plate detachably secured to the frame member by top and bottom clamps. An elongated arm is pivotally secured at its inner end to the lower end of the support plate and extends outwardly therefrom with a second elongated arm being adjustably secured to the upper end of the support plate and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom. The outer end of the second arm is secured to the first arm intermediate the length thereof. The flexible connection means is secured to the outer end of the first arm.

United States Patent [191 Bugh Feb. 19, 1974 TIE-DOWN APPARATUS FOR AVEHICLE MOUNTED CAMPER [76] Inventor: Clayton G. Bugh, 1122 W. Willow,

Cherokee, Iowa 51012 [22] Filed: Aug. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 279,547

Primary Examiner-Robert R; Song Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Zarley, McKee &Thomte 57 ABSTRACT A tie-down apparatus for a truck-mounted camper isdisclosed herein. The truck frame comprises first and secondlongitudinally extending frame members with a bed operatively securedthereto. The camper means is mounted on the bed means with the apparatusof this invention maintaining the camper means in the bed. A firstbracket is secured to the first frame member and extends outwardlytherefrom with a second bracket being secured to the second frame memberand extending outwardly therefrom. A flexible connection means connectsopposite sides of the camper to the outer ends of the brackets. Each ofthe brackets comprises a support plate detachably secured to the framemember by top and bottom clamps. An elongated arm is pivotally securedat its inner end to the lower end of the support plate and extendsoutwardly therefrom with a second elongated arm being adjustably securedto the upper end of the support plate and extending outwardly anddownwardly therefrom. The outer end of the second arm is secured to thefirst ann intermediate the length thereof. The flexible connection meansis secured to the outer end of the first arm.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTED FEB v 91914 1 TIE-DOWN APPARATUSFOR A VEHICLE MOUNTED CAMPER Conventional vehicle-mounted campers arenormally maintained in the truck bed or the like by means of bracketswhich are mounted in the stave pockets of the camper bed. Such anarrangement is quite insecure since the brackets are not ordinarilyadequately welded to the box or bed. Additionally, the bed or box doesnot adequately hold the camper down.

Therefore, it is the principal object of this invention to provide animproved tie-down apparatus for a vehicle-mounted camper. v

A fruther object of this invention is to provide a tiedown apparatus fora vehicle-mounted camper which is detachably connected to the vehicleframe.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tiedown apparatus fora vehicle-mounted camper having means thereon for adjustably positioningthe outwardly extending bracket arms.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tiedown apparatus fora vehicle-mounted camper having adjustment means thereon to permit theapparatus to be mounted on various vehicles.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tiedown apparatus fora vehicle-mounted camper which positively maintains the camper withinthe vehicle bed.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tiedown apparatus fora vehicle-mounted camper which does not detract. from the astheticappearance of the camper or vehicle.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a tie-downapparatus for a vehicle-mounted camper which is economical tomanufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements andcombination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth,specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a vehiclemounted camper and theapparatus of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view seen along lines 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus of this invention, the brokenlines indicating the adjustment of the bracket arms; and

FIG. 4is a exploded perspective view of the apparatus of this invention.

The numeral generally refers to a vehicle such as a truck or the likeincluding a pair of longitudinally extending frame members 12 and 14upon which is mounted a conventional bed or box 16. Frame member 12comprises top flange 18, bottom flange and side 22. Frame member 14 isidentical to frame member 12 and will not be described in detail. Thenumeral 24 refers to a conventional camper having opposite sides'26 and28. As seen in FIG. 2, camper 24 engages the floor 30 of the bed 16.

The numeral 32 refers to the apparatus of this invention and it shouldbe understood that at least a pair of the brackets 32 will ordinarily beused to maintain the camper within the bed. Bracket 32 generallycomprises a flat support plate 34 having a plurality of spaced apartbolt openings 36 formed in its upper end. A pair of spaced apart ears 38and 40 are welded to the exterior surface of the plate 34 and extendoutwardly therefrom as viewed in FIG. 4. A plurality of registering boltopenings 42 and 44 are formed in the ears 38 and 40 and are adapted toreceive the bolt 46 extending therethrough. A pair of spaced apart ears48 and 50 are welded or otherwise secured to the lower end of the plate34 and have bolt openings 52 and 54 formed therein for receiving thebolt 56 therein. Openings 58 (not shown) and 60 extend through the lowercorners of the support plate 34 for receiving the bolts 62 and 64therein re spectively.

An elongated bracket arm 66 is pivotally secured to the ears 48 and 50by the bolt 56 and extends outwardly therefrom. A tie-down ring 68 isprovided on the outer end of the bracket arm 66. A bracket arm 70 issecured at its outer end to the bracket arm 66 by welding or the like asillustrated in 64 and extends upwardly 'and inwardly therefrom. Theinner end of the bracket arm 70 is adjustably secured to the ears 38 and40 by means of the bolt 46.

FIG. 3 illustrates the manner in which the bracket 32 is secured to theframe member 12. The numeral 72 refers to a top clamp having a boltopening 74 formed therein. The numeral 76 refers to a bottom clamphaving a pair of bolt openings 78 and 80 formed therein. As seen in FIG.3, top clamp 72 embraces the top flange 18 with the bolt 82 extendingthrough one of the openings 36 and through the opening 74 in the topclamp 72 to rigidly secure the upper end of the bracket 34 to the upperend of the frame member. The lower end of the support plate 34 issecured to the frame member 12 by means of the bolts 62 and 64 extendingthrough the openings 58 and 60 and through the openings 78 and 80 in thebottom clamp 76 which embraces the bottom flange 20. It can be seen thatthe bracket can be secured to frame members having various verticalheights due to the provision of the plurality of bolt openings 36. Theplurality of bolt openings 42 and 44 permit the selective adjustableconnection of the inner end of the bracket arm 70 to the ears 38 and 40to permit the outer end of the bracket arm 66 to be selectively raisedor lowered to permit the bracket to fit around various sizes of skirtsthat fit over the vehicle frame.

The numeral 84 refers to a chain means which is secured at its lower endto the tie-down ring 68 and which has a turnbuckle 86 secured to itsupper end which is secured to the camper 24. As illustrated in FIG. 2, abracket 32 is'providedon the other side of the vehicle for securing theother side of the camper to the vehicle frame.

The bracket of this invention permits the camper to be rigidly securedto the vehicle frame rather than the vehicle bed as is the case with alarge majority ofthe conventional tie-down systems. The bracket 32 isadjustable to fit various vehicle frame sizes and various vehicle skirtsizes. The relationship of the bracket arm 70 and the bracket arm 66together with their connection to the support plate 34 insures that avery stable connection is provided between the camper and the vehicleframe. The bracket does not detract from the asthetic appearance of thevehicle and it may be easily removed from the vehicle when the camper isnot being used on the'vehicle. Thus it can be seen that an. improvedtie-down apparatus has been provided for a vehicle-mounted camper whichaccomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

I claim:

1. In combination,

a truck comprising first and second longitudinally extending framemembers, a bed means operatively secured to same frame members andhaving opposite sides,

a camper means mounted on said bed means having rearward and forwardends and opposite sides,

a first bracket means secured to said first frame member and extendingoutwardly therefrom, said first bracket means having an outer end,

a second bracket means secured to said second frame member and extendingoutwardly therefrom, said second bracket means having an outer end, eachof said bracket means comprising a support plate means secured to one ofsaid frame members, said plate means having upper and lower ends, afirst elongated arm means pivotally secured at one end thereof to saidplate means at the lower end thereof and extending outwardly therefrom,a second elongated arm means selectively adjustably secured at one endthereof to said plate means at the upper end thereof and extendingoutwardly and downwardly therefrom, said second arm means being securedat its other end to said first arm means,

a first connection means connecting one side of said camper means to theouter end of the first elongated arm of said first bracket means,

and a second connection means connecting the other side of said campermeans to the outer end of the first elongated arm of said second bracketmeans.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said first and secondbracket means are detachably connected to said first and second framemembers respectively.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein a clamp means detachably connectseach of said bracket means to said frame members.

4. The combination of. claim 1 wherein each of said bracket means haveinner ends and wherein each of said .frame members comprises a channelmember having inwardly extending top and bottom flanges, top and bottomclamps detachably securing the inner ends of each of said bracket meansto the said top and bottom flanges of said channel members.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said one end of said second armmeans is secured to said first arm inwardly of the outer end thereof.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein a top clamp means adjustablysecures the upper end of each of said plate means to said frame member,and a bottom clamp means secures the lower end of each of said platemeans to the said frame member.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said connection meanscomprises a turnbuckle-chain means.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said connection means ispositioned outwardly of said bed means.

1. In combination, a truck comprising first and second longitudinallyextending frame members, a bed means operatively secured to same framemembers and having opposite sides, a camper means mounted on said bedmeans having rearward and forward ends and opposite sides, a firstbracket means secured to said first frame member and extending outwardlytherefrom, said first bracket means having an outer end, a secondbracket means secured to said second frame member and extendingoutwardly therefrom, said second bracket means having an outer end, eachof said bracket means comprising a support plate means secured to one ofsaid frame members, said plate means having upper and lower ends, afirst elongated arm means pivotally secured at one end thereof to saidplate means at the lower end thereof and extending outwardly therefrom,a second elongated arm means selectively adjustably secured at one endthereof to said plate means at the upper end thereof and extendingoutwardly and downwardly therefrom, said second arm means being securedat its other end to said first arm means, a first connection meansconnecting one side of said camper means to the outer end of the firstelongated arm of said first bracket means, and a second connection meansconnecting the other side of said camper means to the outer end of thefirst elongated arm of said second bracket means.
 2. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein each of said first and second bracket means aredetachably connected to said first and second frame membersrespectively.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein a clamp meansdetachably connects each of said bracket means to said frame members. 4.The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said bracket means have innerends and wherein each of said frame members comprises a channel memberhaving inwardly extending top and bottom flanges, top and bottom clampsdetachably securing the inner ends of each of said bracket means to thesaid top and bottom flanges of said channel members.
 5. The combinationof claim 1 wherein said one end of said second arm means is secured tosaid first arm inwardly of the outer end thereof.
 6. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein a top clamp means adjustably secures the upper end ofeach of said plate means to said frame member, and a bottom clamp meanssecures the lower end of each of said plate means to the said framemember.
 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said connectionmeans comprises a turnbuckle-chain means.
 8. The combination of claim 1wherein each of said connection means is positioned outwardly of saidbed means.